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Posts: 4
| Heading up to northern Minnesota a little later this year-First week of September as opposed to July. I've heard of a good bullrush bite during late summer or early fall. Has anyone experienced this? When does it usually occur? Thanks in advance for all the help. |
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Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | When the water begins to cool I see that pattern developing on Cass, and on lakes here in Oneida County WI too. Spinnerbaits rule for that deal for me! You might just hit it dead on, way the weather looks now for the next 10 days or so. |
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| I love the September bite. When the evening water temps start to cool things down, things seem to happen. Give me a 2 week period when you lose 15 degrees of water temp, from say 72-57 and I'm happy. Misty mornings and a chop going all during daylight hours.
BUT, just because there are reeds doesn't mean that there are muskies in them. Fish the reeds that have weeds that run up in to them, and fish the same area where those weeds end as the bottom drops. The criteria that I look for are.....reeds near a drop off. Preferably where the fish don't have to cover more than a few yards of barren bottom. I like to see cabbage right up to the edge of the reeds, with and edge that is in at least 3 feet of water. Close to the weeds is good, and if you have a weed bed that extends out for 10-20 yards before it drops off, that can be good too. My best fish have come with reeds that run right up to inside turns of weed edges. If I can keep the boat in 15-20 feet of water, and hit the reed edge with a cast and then work a spinnerbait through the last 10' of reeds, then over the cabbage and then flutter it down the break.....that is the best scenario for me. It's a great place to work gliders too.
I've seen guys fishing reed beds that weren't very thick, and fish would have to cross hundreds of yards of 2-3 feet of sandy, or gravel bottom to reach those reeds. I've never had any luck fishing those reeds, but I'm one guy and you might get some differing opinions.
Give me reeds with good, healthy weeds and deep water close by, and I'll fish those repeatedly.
Like Steve said, spinnerbaits are probably #1, for getting back into the reeds and back out. I like a big single spin that I can flutter down the break once the spinnerbait makes it out of the reeds. If I get reeds with good weeds and sharp break near the edge, I'll use a big glider and flutter it out and away and down the weed edge. That is my favorite pattern.
Beav |
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Posts: 2361
| Early spring is different than fall reeds, and have seen a lot more barren reed patches than patches that held muskies.
Structure first, cover second.
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| Buzz Baits in the bullrushes will rock your world!  |
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Posts: 100
Location: Bemidji/Cass Lake | Favorite pattern. Some rush beds are better than others, yes deep water nearby helps, BUT is not necessary. Biggest rush fish I've ever seen was 1/2 mile away from water deeper than 6ft. 53"+. My personal best rush fish was a 50". I caught it while in a rush bed that I was so far into I could not cast to open water with any bait. I like to use a lillytail with a large grub over the hook to be weedless. Also a Boogerman or Rad Dog. They eat when they go in there, that's the best part! I fish certain patches of rushes all year. It's not just a fall thing.
Later
Sackett |
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Posts: 63
Location: Indianapolis, IN | I agree with Sackett. Deep water close by helps, but is not neccesary! Muskies will travel across vast stretches of barren sand to get to a reed bed! When the fish are in the reeds, it is my opinion, they are there to eat! Also fishing the reeds tends to be a late summer/early pattern to most anglers. However, I know of one top notch muskie guide from MN who fishes the reeds all season long. Any bait which can be manuvered through the reeds with minimal "hanging" should produce just fine!
Todd |
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Posts: 4
| Thanks for the input~ just what I was looking for! |
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